Peter Bettell said he was assaulted as he returned to his canal boat (Picture: Glenn Copus/ Evening Standard)

A group of thugs have pushed at least five cyclists into a London canal, police said today.

Last week, Peter Bettell said that as he returned home to his canal boat in Kensal Rise he was assaulted by yobs, the Standard reports. He was first punched, his jacket was then slashed open and he was finally pushed into the water.

He had to fight to reach the side because his shoes were clipped into his bike.

Police said today that there have been at least four other cases of cyclists that have been pushed into the Grand Union Canal, all of which took place in February at different points along the canal and all of which involved lone male cyclists aged between 35 and 49.

Mr Bettell said it was ‘touch and go’ when he went into the water (Picture: Glenn Copus/ Evening Standard)

‘These incidents have been very unpleasant for the victims, who may have not suffered particularly serious injuries, but they have been left frightened and highly traumatised by what has happened to them,’ Inspector Anna Brennan, who heads the Westminster Safer Neighbourhoods team investigating the incidents, told the Standard.